It has been a few days since we posted, but hardly surprising considering the conditions so far. We are now crossing the Mozambique Channel and as far as we can tell the systems seem to come through on average every 48 hours or so. We now expect the winds to spin the full 360 degrees with each cycle (but not in an orderly fashion) and then we do it all again. The seas are generally so seriously confused they are in need of deep therapy. To add to the fun, we are in a major shipping lane where some of the commercial vessels have a reluctance to put on their legally required AIS (must want to save their batteries) and love to come up at speed from behind. So with all the sail changes, strong winds, rock and roll and general low level stress, the pair of us are knackered. In fact, its a miracle that the height of our gastronomic mealtime delights haven't been just peeling a muesli bar. However since the purchase of many par-baked baguettes, discovery of some amazing boil in the bag curries and the ton of other French produce purchased in Reunion, we have been feasting and I think I am putting on weight.

Since leaving Reunion we have made a few strategic decisions that haven't quite paid off, so we were near the back of the fleet for a while (as we should technically be, being one of the slower rated boats) but then pay-back time when we pulled off a masterful use of the currents and the right wind angle to cut off a corner south of Madagascar (safely - thanks to Anastasia giving us the way point) and make great speed - Matilda loves strong wind and chop - and now there are only a few division two boats ahead of us! Sadly this state of affairs will probably not last and has been overshadowed by another worrying pressure system developing just in time for us to hit the most dangerous part of the whole trip, coming into Richards Bay over the famous Agulhas Current, so we have a time line to aim for to get in before it. Sadly now when the wind and boat speed drops on will go the engine. Hopefully it will come to nothing but we are thinking ahead, and fortunately the dangerous part is only a few miles out from the coast, so you can time it or hang around outside of it with reasonable safely.

We are really looking forward to South Africa. It would seem from the skippers briefings that the people of SA are going to be putting on a great welcome so we are getting excited (although they will have strong competition from Mauritius and Reunion where the local authorities and people gave us an absolutely outstanding welcome and treatment, I hope they are aware of how wonderful they are and how grateful we all were. A particular honourable mention goes to Natasha from the Tourist Office in Reunion, who set up shop by the quayside and had to deal with the pair of us working out where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do and how to do it on a budget - not easy. If that wasn't enough, we then came across her on her day off in Hell-Bourg at lunch and probably gave her and her family indigestion.

In SA we are particularly looking forward to the ARC tour of a nearby wildlife park, where we should see the big four. We had also thought of doing a weeks horse riding trip on a private reserve, before we found out it was normally a hunting reserve, one where rich people have the opportunity to bag the big four from the security of a Range Rover. We have heard the arguments in favour of it as a conservation tool, but could never support such an undertaking ((just how small does your todger have to be to want do this).

For the present though we are concentrating on getting the boat there safely. At the moment we are between systems and under motor with just 4 knots of wind. In that time what little wind we have has gone round 180+ degrees and we are told we can soon expect a blow (I can see squalls on the horizon) - oh what jolly fun the Indian Ocean is. Roll on Richards Bay (hopefully by Sunday evening...)